Alaska Newspapers Inc. Endorses Lisa Murkowski for US Senate

Published: October 20, 2010

When you’re going through hard times of any sort, the natural reaction is to look for support or advice from someone who’s seasoned, trustworthy, experienced. Alaska has its share of challenges right now. With these themes in mind, and the Nov. 2 general election closing in, Alaska Newspapers believes the clear choice for Alaska representation in Washington, D.C., is the experience that comes from Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Alaska Newspapers, Editorial Board has chosen to endorse Lisa Murkowski as candidate for US Senate.

Murkowski’s leadership for Alaska has been vetted on the state and national levels. In 1998, she was elected to the state House and named as House Majority Leader for the 2003–2004 session. She sat on the Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education and chaired both the Labor and Commerce and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committees. As a U.S. senator, Murkowski has been an active member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and served as vice-chair of the committee. She is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Committee on Appropriations, and has a continuing role on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Both McAdams and Miller’s work is admirable, but it doesn’t compare to the scope of benefits that Murkowski has brought home.

She’s accomplished big changes, such as helping to secure $24.5 million in funding for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements through the Village Safe Water Act. She’s worked to pass the Alaska Lands Transfer Acceleration Act, which requires the Interior Department to complete overdue land transfers in order to give Alaskans the land we were promised at statehood.

Murkowski’s experience -- and Alaskans’ experience with her leadership -- shows she’s the right candidate for the job.